Metal burial casket



F. T.- PADEN METAL BURIAL CASKET April 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 8, 1946 T r-r-rw- A ril 11,, 1950 F. T. PADEN METAL BURIAL CASKET 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1946 l' atented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE METAL BURIAL CASKET Frederick T. Paden, Collingswood, N. J

Application October 8, 1946, Serial No. 701,861

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3'700. G. 757) 9 Claims.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured andused by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without thepayment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a metallic receptacle, and more particularly,to a metallic burial casket of seamless construction.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sheet metal seamlessburial casket having a bottom convexed downwardly and a sheet metalcradle structure for attachment to the convexed bottom to support sameon a flat surface.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sheet metal cradlestructure in association with a receptacle having a curved bottom inwhich the cradle structure has portions lying in the curvature of thereceptacle bottom and other intermediate portions below saidfirst-mentioned portions and lying in a flat plane.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sheet metalcradle structure for use with a receptacle of the casket type having acurved bottom and in which the ends of the cradle are formed to presenta combined handheld and molding structure.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a sheet metalcradle structure for attachment to a receptacle having a downwardlyconvexed bottom and in which the cradle has upper portions normallylying in a curvature of greater convexity than that of the receptaclebottom, and in which the cradle is sufficiently resilient so that whenthe cradle is secured to the receptacle bottom, it will be forced intoposition so that all of its upper portions will be pressed against thereceptacle for engaging and supporting said receptacle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for a sheet metalcradle for attachment to a receptacle having a bottom downwardlyconvexed, and in which the cradle is provided with a molding at each ofits ends, and in which a space for fingers is provided adjacent eachmolding, and in which the finger spaces provide access to the means ofsecuring the cradle to the receptacle bottom.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear in thefollowing detailed description and will be pointed out particularly inthe appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the metallic receptacle of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the metallic receptacle of this invention;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the receptacle;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view thereof, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing the means forsecuring the cradle structure to the receptacle body. 7

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the receptacle or casket ofthis invention is composed of a main body portion l of seamless sheetmetal construction and which is preferably formed by deep stamping of aunitary sheet. At the bottom of the main body portion I there isprovided a supporting cradle denoted generally by reference numeral 2,also of stamped sheet metal construction. The lid (not shown) is alsopreferably formed by stamping. As shown in Figure 1, the sides of thereceptacle body I are provided with suitable hand rails 4 secured inbrackets 5 suitably secured to the exterior of the body I. The design ofthe hand rail bracket structure and the general design of the casketshown in Figure 1 are covered in co-pendingdesign applications, SerialNos. D-131,670, D131,671, and D-131,672, all filed July 18, 1946.Application Serial No. D-131,670 is now Patent No. Des. 153,165 andapplication Serial No. D-131 ,672 is now Patent No. Des. 153,166, bothdated March 22, 1949, and application Serial No. D13l,671 is abandoned.The upholstery shown in Figure 2 is of conventional type and forms nopart of the present invention.

As clearly shown in Figure 4, the cradle structure 2, formed ofresilient sheet metal construction, is provided with a central upper ribor protuberance 6 and side upper ribs or protuberances 1 for directlyengaging the convex bottom 8 of the main body I. When the cradle is insecured position as shown in Figure 4, the ribs or pro- 4 tuberances 6and l have the same convexit as the bottom 3 of the casket body so as toprovide a substantial supporting surface. To enable the cradle 2 to bepositioned on a fiat horizontal surface, it is provided Withintermediate lower ribs or protuberances 9 positioned between and belowthe ribs or protuberances 6 and 1 and lying in a substantiallyhorizontal plane. These ribs or protuberances 6 and I, extend throughoutthe length of the cradle and across the ends thereof, as clearly shownin Figure 3. The outer ends of the cradle 2 are provided with moldingsin formed by extending the sheet metal of cradle 2 downwardly andoutwardly, and then upwardly and inwardly, as shown in Figure 4.Although the cradle 2 is illustrated as being formed of separatesections each of which may be easily stamped and which sections areconnected together at the base of the molding I0, it is within the scopeof this invention to form cradle 2 of a single sheet of metal, Themolding l extends continuously around the cradle and if desired can bemade of several lengthwise sections suitably joined together. Theextreme ends of the cradle 2 are inturned under the body I asat II, theportions ll being adapted to closely engage the portions [2 of the bodyI, which portions [2 are concaved downwardly and interconnect the wallsl3. and the downwardly convex bottom 8 of the body I. To secure thecradle 2 tothe bottom of the casket body, there is provided a pluralityof stud bolts 14' at s'p'aced intervals around the bottom 8 and weldedto the exterior of the bottom 8, as shown in detail in Figure 5. It isto be noted that the bolts U! do not pierce themain body of the casketand thus the seal-tight character of the casket body is not destroyed bythe securing means for the cradle 2. To complete the securing means, foreach bolt f4, there is provided a threaded nut l5 which threads onto thebolt 14 passing through an' opening 16 in the cradle 2 at portion 1thereof. Th'e'securing means, [5 are provided at spaced intervals alongthe casket to provide for firm engage'ment between the cradle 2 and thebottom of 'the'cask'et body.

In order to provide for a tight fit between the cradle'and the casketbody, the cradle 2 is formed with'th'e portions 6, I, and H thereofnormally lying in a curvature of greater convexity than thatof thebottom of a casket body so that when the portions 6' and I! contact thebottom of the casket body, the portions 1 will lie in slightlys'pa'c'ed"relationshipfrom the bottom of the casket body. Ihen when thenuts 15 are threaded tight- 13; onto the bolts l4, the portions 1. ofthe cradle will be carried up tightly against the bottom of the casket,and due to the resilient structure of the sheet 'metal cradle 2, thiswill force portions 6 and H more tightly against the bottom of thecalsket'body to form'a wedge orpress fit. In order to facilitateshipping the caskets or receptacles in a shipping case or crate, thereare provided a number of studs I! which are tapped to receive anysuitable shipping bolt for tying the casket or receptacledownin theshipping case or crate.

The upper portions of the walls l3 0f the main body I are bent outwardlyto form an endless flange [8 around the opening to the body I. The outerextremity of the flange i8 is down-turned at [9, as clearly shown inFigures 3 and 4. Also, the flange I8 is provided with an upwardly formedbead 20 for sealing purposes. In order to reinforce the flange [8, areinforcing angle or angles 2| are provided all around the body I, asshown in Figure 4. The angles 2! having their horiz'ontal portions 22suitably secured as by welding or by mechanical means to the undersurface of the flange 18. The down-turned Portion i9 of the flange i8 isbent over the reinforcing angles 2|, as illustrated. The verticalportions 23 of the angles 21 extend downwardly and are positionedoutwardly of the horizontal portions 22 and are spaced from the walls I3of the body portion I, as shown in Figure 4. An upper molding 24 extendscontinuously around the upper portion of the casket body I. If desired,the molding 24 can be made of either a single or several longitudinalsections suitably joined together to encircle the body I.

It is evident that applicant has provided a seamless receptacle orcasket of sheet metal construction which has a deep stamped main bodywhich is rounded transversely; that the cradle structure 2 which is alsostamped from sheet metal is provided with upwardly extending ribs orprotuberances arranged in the form of an arc to snugly receive therounded bottom of the body portion; that it is also provided withdownwardly directed ribs or protuberances which adapt it to be supportedon flat surfaces, and that the cradle structure specifically providesfor a lower molding ID in keeping with the upper molding 24, and whichlower molding is provided with a finger space behind it so that it maybe used as a handhold. It is also apparent that applicant has provided areceptacle or casket construction of lightweight and durable designwhich may be-readily stamped from sheet metal on a mass productionbasis.

Though this invention is particularl applicable to metallic caskets, itis not limited thereto since the features of this invention are equallyapplicable to other metallic receptacles or receptacles made of othermaterials such as wood, plastics, etc., and the use of the term casket,as used in the specification and claims, should be read to cover othertypes of receptacles as well.

While the invention has been described in more or less detail, it is notto be limited thereby as changes maybe made in the form, arrangement andconstruction of parts, and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, theform hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

No claim is made in this application to the structure of the jointbetween the body and closure of the casket as this has been made thesubject matter of a divisional application, Serial No. 27,812, filed onMay 18, 1948, and now Patent No. 2,494,577, dated January 17,1950.

I claim:

1. In combination with a receptacle having a downwardly convexed bottom,a cradle structure of sheet metal'having ribs contacting the receptaclebottom at spaced intervals for support, at least one rib intermediatesaid first-mentioned ribs and adaptedto contact the-ground ora floor,and end ribs constituting handhoids to facilitate carrying the cradleand receptacle.

2. In combination with a receptacle having a downwardly convexed bottom,a cradle structure of sheet metal comprising spacedrib's contacting thereceptacle bottom at spaced intervals for support and having a curvatureconforming substantially to the curvature of the'receptacie bottom, atleast one rib intermediate and below said first-mentioned ribs adaptedto lie in a flat plane for contacting the ground or a floor, and endribs formed to provide combined handholds and molding.

3. In combination with a receptacle having a downwardly convexed bottom,a cradle structure of sheet metal comprising spaced ribs lyingin a curvesubstantially coinciding with the curve of the receptacle bottom andcontacting said receptacle bottom, ribs intermediate and below saidfirst-mentioned ribs and lying in a flat plane for contacting anyhorizontal support, and an end portion at each end of the cradleinterconnectig the first-mentioned ribs and forming a combined moldingand handheld.

4. In combination with a receptacle having a downwardly convexed bottom,a cradle structure of resilient sheet metal comprising spaced ribs lyingin the curve of said receptacle bottom, and at least one ribintermediate and below said firstmentioned ribs forming a support forsaid cradle, said sheet'metal being sufficiently resilient whereby itmay be sprung into position with all of said first-mentioned ribscontacting the receptacle bottom for attachment thereto.

5. In combination with a receptacle Whose bottom presents across-section generally downwardly convexed and merging into small endregions downwardly concaved, a cradle structure of resilient sheet metalhaving spaced ribs lying in the curvature of the receptacle bottom forsupporting. said receptacle bottom, at least one rib intermediate andbelow said first-mentioned ribs and forming a cradle support, and endribs forming combined molding and handholds and having inturnedextremities for engaging said concave regions of said receptacle bottom.

6. In combination with a receptacle whose bottom presents across-section generally downwardly convexed and merging into smalldownwardly concaved end regions, a cradle structure of sheet metalcomprising spaced ribs lying in the curve'of said receptacle bottom, atleast One rib intermediate and below said first-mentioned ribs forming asupport for said cradle, and end ribs having inturned extremities, saidsheet metal being sufliciently resilient whereby it may be sprung intoposition with all of said first-mentioned ribs contacting the receptaclebottom and with said inturned extremities fitting into said concavedregions.

7, In combination with a receptacle whose bottom presents across-section generally downwardly convexed, a cradle structure of sheetmetal comprising spaced ribs contacting said receptacle bottom forsupport of said bottom, at least one rib intermediate and below saidfirstmentioned ribs forming a support for said cradle, and a moldingformed at each of the extremities of said sheet metal, each of saidmoldings being spaced from said second-mentioned rib to provide fingerspaces when said moldings are used as handholds.

8. In combination with a casket whose bottom presents a cross-sectiongenerally downwardly convexed, a cradle structure of sheet metalcomprising spaced ribs contacting said casket bottom for support of saidbottom, at least one rib intermediate and below said first-mentionedribs forming a support for said cradle, and a molding formed at each ofthe extremities of said sheet metal cradle, and means for securing theoutermost of said first-mentioned ribs to the casket bottom, each ofsaid moldings being spaced from said second-mentioned rib to providefinger spaces when said moldings are used as handholds, and said fingerspaces being constructed and arranged to provide access to said means.

9. In combination with a receptacle having a downwardly convexed bottom,a cradle structure of sheet metal, a series of upwardly extendinglongitudinal ribs arranged in the'form of an are on said cradle andcontacting the convex receptacle bottom at spaced intervals to supportthe same, and downwardly extending ribs intermediate saidfirst-mentioned ribs and adapted to contact the ground or a floor.

FREDERICK T. PADEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 353,772 Baker Dec. '7, 18861,486,384 King Mar. 11, 1924 2,437,141 Wallace Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 22,940 Austria Feb. 10, 1906

